Hint of tax relief in Vic

Reducing payroll tax will be a budget priority for a fourth-term Victorian government if economic conditions permit, Premier
John Brumby
says.

The Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry used a conference of regional business leaders on Friday at Ballarat, north-west of Melbourne, to call for tax relief for country businesses.

The chamber’s proposal – outlined at the conference, at which Mr Brumby and Opposition Leader
Ted Baillieu
both spoke – included a one-year payroll tax “holiday" for employers who hired the long-term unemployed.

The employers’ group wants registration fees and vehicle taxes on company cars to be waived for one year for regional employers who recruit new apprentices.

Neither the government nor the opposition committed to tax relief, but Mr Brumby said Labor had a good record of cutting taxes and hinted at reductions.

At the conference, Mr Brumby announced $25 million for an extra 1000 new student accommodation beds across regional Victoria and $1 million to redevelop the Marysville golf club in partnership with sporting identity
Greg Norman
.

Mr Baillieu pledged $6 million for a leadership fund to support economic growth in the regions.

The money would come from the Coalition’s promised $1 billion regional growth fund.

The government promised laws giving police power to destroy barriers to enter bikie clubs if it won the election next month.